Every Dragon Has His Day

Spike decided to get up before dawn to take a walk and air out his wings. It was unlike him to get up before noon if he didn't have to, much less before Twilight. He tiptoed out of the house and out the door. The sun was just rising, but Ponyville was still asleep. He walked down the main street, folding and unfolding his wings. “They don't have those ugly holes in them, thank goodness,” he thought. Spike remembered how intimidating those teenage dragons were with those gashes in their wings.

All of a sudden, Spike heard a loud noise that was undoubtedly a certain pink pony. “Hiya, Spike!” she shouted as she ran towards him. “What's my best dragon friend doing up so early? Ya don't want to spoil the surprise you'll get from your awesome festivale today!” She beckoned to a cart full of decorations and a large banner she had hung up. “Ya like it? Twilight said I should include a traditional piece of dragon artwork, so I did!”

Spike looked at the banner, with its intimidating dragon figure holding a noisemaker. It was clear to him that the banner had been changed. Smiley faces had been drawn over faces of horror, and he guessed the noisemaker originally was a house. Dragon artwork? As drawn by ponies, probably.

“Uh, Pinks?”

“Yes, Spike?”

“Where did you get the design for this banner?”

“I told you, silly! Twilight got the design for me from a book, and I painted it all by myself! Of course I had to make it a little bit happier, since I had to make it fun!

Spike decided to drop it. There's no way she intended to imply anything bad. She was too focused on planning to have any ulterior motive. “Well, at least she doesn't think I'm like that,” he thought.

“Oops, I almost forgot to post these all over town,” Pinkie said pulling out a large stack of fliers and interrupting Spike's thoughts. “How can we have a super-duper-special-awesome dragon party if nopony knows it's going on? Gotta go and spread the word!” She bounced away happily.

“That pony...” Spike shook his head. He didn't really ever know where she got her energy, but she never did fail to make him smile. She would be the kind of pony to make that kind of banner. It stopped being surprising once he thought about it, and he began to chuckle.

But his thoughts soon turned to another pony. Rarity seemed supportive, but what would happen during the festivale? Would she still be like that then, with everypony else around? Spike remembered seeing Rarity keep the Fire Ruby on her shelf, and everything it represented to her. He still had feelings for her, and they had recently only felt stronger. He hoped that she would start taking him more seriously, but her initial shockat the new addition in his life had surprised him.  “I'm probably just overreacting to all of this...yeah...overreacting.” Spike thought, trying to reassure himself. The first ponies began to emerge from their homes as the sun rose higher, and Spike decided to head on back to the library before Twilight got too worried.

“There you are, Spike. Ready for an awesome day? I was just gonna go on a quick fly with Rainbow Dash, wanna come?” Twilight said as Spike walked into the library.

He looked at his wings.

“Yeah, I don't think I can keep up with a pegasus, much less an alicorn.”

Twilight giggled. “Ah, well. I wanted to go see the start of your festival with you anyway. I'm sure Rainbow will understand. Princess Celestia said she should be here soon, too.”

“Really? What'd she say?” Spike asked inquisitively.

“She's just happy that I said you're not upset by it,” Twilight said with a smile.

Spike breathed a sigh of relief. He had hoped Celestia wouldn't call in the Wonderbolts or send him to the dragon lands at the first sign of growth.

“Wanna hitch a ride?” Twilight lowered her wings and beckoned for Spike to jump on. He did, and soon both had taken to the skies, headed for the town square.